Stories Of Hope

Reprising An Important Video From The Past...

A Stressed Out Mom-To-Be

A recent guest, and expectant parent, had additional pressure to resolve her homelessness as quickly as possible. "If the baby comes before the apartment does, Child Protective Services will be called... That scares me. I just can't let that happen." You can hear the tension in Siobhan’s voice when she says this. She lost a job and health benefits in Tennessee. She came to Michigan to be near family, “I’m working hard to get it all done, very quickly. HOPE has really helped me a lot. I know I couldn't have done this on my own.”

After only 17 days as guests at HOPE, Siobhan and her fiancé moved into their apartment in plenty of time to set-up the baby’s room. So, now they can relax and enjoy being expectant parents.

Can you imagine the stress this mom felt? ​

Wayne, the Football Scholar, Gets His Own Place​

Wayne had a long track record of success. He earned his BA degree in business with a minor in health while attending college on a football scholarship. He experienced homelessness after a long career managing traffic control workers.​After college, Wayne even had a tryout with the Kansas City Chiefs. Unfortunately, that ended in disappointment; but he didn't let that send him down a wrong path. He was committed to having a good life. He married his high school sweetheart and began working hard to provide for his family.

Through a series of jobs, Wayne continued to climb into some interesting occupations. He served as a “chicken hanger” (just as bad as it sounds), a bread salesman, and eventually the manager of a road crew of traffic control workers. Although he and his family moved around the country a bit, they felt like their lives had been good. All of that changed in a quick moment.

While driving alone down the highway, Wayne read a message that had been sent to him. The quick glance resulted in a collision with an overpass. The damage to his spine and nerves left him unable to work. This began a long downward spiral. Although Wayne moved back to Michigan to be with his extended family, dealing with pain and debilitating injuries left him in a deep depression. Soon, every relationship in his life was being strained by his depression and his emerging substance abuse. The death of his father felt like the worst that could happen. But, before his father’s funeral, Wayne’s brother, also died. The grief was unbearable. Wayne plunged deeper into the abuse of a variety of substances to numb the physical and emotional pain. None of it helped him relate to those who wished to be close to him. With every relationship now broken, he found himself completely isolated. Eventually, he lost everything. Experiencing homelessness was devastating. He had lost hope. He kept trying to get sober, but at the end of each rehabilitation program, he found himself self-medicating the deep pain that wouldn’t go away. He kept trying, but always relapsed, quickly. Numbing the depression had helped to hide other pains. While in a detox program, doctors discovered that Wayne had stage 4 cancer.Confronted with his own mortality, Wayne began to cling to life. The hospital referred Wayne to HOPE Recuperative Care Center. HOPE was a life-saving resource for Wayne. Here, he was able to deal with his medical issues and receive extensive case management. He mended many of his relationships.Wayne states that “HOPE challenges you to be your own man and acknowledge that what happens to you is up to you. HOPE has given me the opportunity to get it together.” So, Wayne is reconnecting with family while taking care of his on-going health issues. Recently, Wayne moved into his own apartment. “I couldn’t have done it without HOPE.” NOTE WORTHY: Wayne received one of the Cleaning Kits recently donated by Eagle Scout Dominic Jolley of Troup 139. Wayne truly appreciated having all the things he needed to clean his new apartment.

Doug's Story

This is a story about Doug; Doug’s story does not have a typical ending. It is always our goal at HOPE to help guests secure housing. In the case of Doug, the goal was different. Our goal with Doug was to work toward a peaceful transition to the next life.

Doug came to HOPE’s Recuperate Care Center in the fall of 2015 after his hospitalization for a lung problem. As it turned out, the lung problem was cancer. One of the complicating factors for attending Doug’s medical needs was the stage of his cancer was unknown.While his medical team was arranging for a variety of diagnostic tests it was easy to observe that Doug was rapidly losing weight.

Throughout the course of treatments and evaluations, HOPE nursing staff was in regular contact with the doctors and staff of the cancer center. There was regular collaboration with the Oakland County public health nurse who was following Doug’s treatment and care. To help with Doug’s weight loss, the nurses provided nutritional supplement drinks.

In mid fall, Doug’s daughters reached out to us and the Recuperative Center Manager who encouraged them to visit, even though they lived in Tennessee. Everyone was encouraged when the daughter's visited. It was clear that the visit lifted Doug’s spirits.

As Thanksgiving approached, he was getting worse and everyone felt a return visit from his girls would be good medicine for him. He was aware of his deteriorating health, as a result he refused to have staff call them. Doug did not want his daughters to observe his decline.

In December testing confirmed what the nursing staff suspected, Doug had an advanced stage four cancer that had spread to other sites. Doug's weight loss continued despite efforts to boost him up.

At Christmas he once again refused contacting his daughters, who wanted to visit. Doug had a quiet courage about him. It is difficult for most to face the end of their mortal selves. Doug seemed to be at peace with his situation. During the holidays Doug chose a Christmas ornament that said, “Believe.” In retrospect, he seemed to be peacefully preparing himself for the great adventure beyond.

HOPE received a donation of books, which included titles by James Patterson and a John Grisham. Doug quickly secured the titles he wanted most and began to read. Most of his spare time was spent reading.

After the first of the year Doug’s condition became progressively worse. As Doug’s condition developed we realized that Doug did not have an Advanced Directive. HOPE Staff was able to secure blank copies from the cancer center where Doug was being treated. One of our nurses; Chris, who has over 15 years experience in hospice care, sat down with Doug. Chris was able to explain and complete the advance directive with him. Following that signing the advanced directive was taken to his sister a few miles away. Doug’s condition was explained to his sister as well as the need for the advance directive, which she signed.

Around the same time there was another conversation about allowing Doug’s daughters to visit him. After this conversation Doug agreed to have his daughters visit. By the time his daughters arrived from Tennessee, Doug needed to go to the hospital. HOPE Staff spent time explaining to them his condition and how seriously ill he was. Doug’s daughters were able to take him to the hospital. While at the hospital he was put in hospice care. A few short days later Doug passed peacefully with his family by his side.

Everything that could have been done for Doug was done. During Doug’s time with us we were able to get him approved for housing; which could not be realized. He received excellent, compassionate care leaving no stone unturned to help. Doug’s case required collaboration on all parts and between organizations. Each person who interacted with Doug’s case can say they did their best to be of service.

Lastly, it must be said Doug made friends so very easily. He had a regular group of guys around him all the time. Professionals (doctors, nurses, social workers, etc.) are trained to keep a professional distance from the people they work with. Working with Doug felt more like helping a friend going through a rough patch. His smile and caring attitude towards others transcended professional boundaries. It made it nearly impossible not to like him! As a result, his passing touched everyone that worked with him. We all received more than we gave and we have Doug to thank for that!

​Volunteers count the homeless amid polar vortex,bringing them to warmth and safety

The Oakland Press: February 1, 2019

By Natalie Broda - nbroda@digitalfirstmedia.com

At HOPE, an individual catches up on some sleep Thursday afternoon. The shelter's been at or above capacity during this week's polar vortex, keeping those who are homeless out of the dangerous cold. In total, there's only about 250 permanent shelter beds in Oakland County for its 4,000 homeless.

On Wednesday night, in the middle of the coldest part of this week’s polar vortex, 115 volunteers ventured out into the woods, alleyways and shelters of Oakland County to count the homeless.

The federally mandated Point in Time Count of homeless, overseen on a national level by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, takes place the last 10-days in January every year. It’s generally one of the coldest times of the season, giving agencies like the Oakland County’s Alliance for Housing a better idea on who is truly without shelter.

​Due to the extreme cold this year however, agencies were given the choice to postpone the annual count until February. Macomb and Wayne County agencies did just that, but in Oakland County, the Alliance for Housing decided the show must go on

“We wanted to go through with it mainly because of the life threatening conditions,” Ashley Burton, grants and community manager said. “We worked out a way to transport them to the shelter, because it is an emergency situation. We’d rather go out and potentially save a life than not go out at all.”

Volunteers were enthusiastic, and bundled up, ready to spend in some cases more than five hours canvasing parts of the county, said Debra Hendren, development site coordinator. Only a few people dropped out from the count due to health concerns.

Inside HOPE. Photo by Natalie Broda - Digital First Media

Inside HOPE. Photo by Natalie Broda - Digital First Media

“We had two women fly all the way back from Florida that morning to come and do the count,” Hendren said. “It’s a lot harder to walk away from the situation when you have an interaction (with someone who’s homeless), hearing their personal stories breaks down those stereotypes and stigma. All of us could be there given a certain set of circumstances.”

Around seven people were found out in the cold. Four of them chose to deny transportation the shelter, a common barrier agencies deal with year after year due to the fear, and shame, associated with homelessness. Some worry they may be taken to jail, others simply don’t want anyone to know about their situation.

One man was found in a fast food restaurant in Walled Lake just a few hours before closing time. At first he declined the transportation, but Shannon Smith, director of housing programs at Lighthouse of Oakland County, said he changed his mind when volunteers came back inside to offer him resources.

“We try to talk to them, let them know we’re here to help and that we want them to be warm and safe. Both of the people we ended up taking to shelters were extremely grateful,” Smith said. “One man told me he had watched someone close to him pass from the elements. That’s trauma on top of the trauma they may not have worked through for their own situation.”

Smith and James McQueen, pantry manager at Lighthouse, spent six hours on Wednesday night responding to calls from volunteers to pick up individuals in the cold. Lighthouse bought two new vans this year and Smith said when they heard about the extreme cold happening the same day as the count, she knew they could be of help in bringing people into a warming center for the night. The organization plans to bring two vans to the count next year.

In total, there are only 250 permanent shelter beds in Oakland County for its 4,000 homeless.

“One thing I found that really made an impact this year was finding these individuals in rural areas. People don’t see that homelessness exists there, because it’s not on the street corner,” Smith said.​One of the sites individuals were driven to was the Hope Warming Center in Pontiac. They’ve got 62 beds there, which have been at capacity the past few days. Some slept in chairs once the beds were full — Hope Warming doesn’t turn anyone away, Elizabeth Kelly, co-founder and executive director of the shelter said.

Elizabeth Kelly, co-founder and executive director of Pontiac's Hope Warming Center, stands beside bags of donated blankets and coats that have been pouring in since Tuesday. Photo by Natalie Broda - Digital First Media

Robert Logan, 49 of Ortonville, has spent the last 90-days at Pontiac's Hope Warming Center. It's been busy for the 62-bed shelter this week, keeping those who are homeless out of the dangerous cold. In total, there's only about 250 permanent shelter beds in Oakland County for its 4,000 homeless. Photo by Natalie Broda - Digital First Media

“We’ve had blankets and coats being donated to us continuously over the last 24-hours,” she said. “It’s been crowded. We ran three over our capacity on Tuesday, but, we don’t turn anyone away. When the weather is like this, it’s so dangerous.”

Robert Logan, 49 of Ortonville, has been homeless for six years. He’s spent the last 90-days at Hope Warming, learning from others he said, and trying to get his life back on track

“It’s always busy here especially on cold days. I’ve been trying to keep everybody settled. This is a good spot to be, because everybody is taking care of everybody,” he said.​As of Thursday morning, volunteers were still out reconfirming count numbers with shelters and searching for those they may have missed. Official Point in Time Count numbers are set to be verified within the next week.